Swedish researchers have found that the body is capable of manufacturing its own antibiotic from within, that guard against urinary tract infection.
It was thought that the very act of passing urine is a cleansing mechanism, which prevented bacteria from forming in the membranes, but, researchers at the Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm have proved otherwise. They discovered that the body generates an antibacterial peptide, called LL-37 that safeguards against urinary tract infections (UTIs).Research leader and Professor Annelie Brauner said 'Urinary tract infection is not only painful for the patient but also an economical burden to the individual and society. Our findings point to a new way to prevent the development of urinary tract infection by boosting the antibacterial peptide LL-37. For patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infection, attack would quite simply be the best form of defense.'
